🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $926 in Szolnok versus $2,341 in Barcelona.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,378 in Szolnok versus $3,462 in Barcelona.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,831 in Szolnok versus $4,582 in Barcelona.
🙂Living in Szolnok costs roughly 60% less than in Barcelona, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Szolnok is 31% below, Barcelona is 75% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.00Ft 2,487
$17.61€15.04
-54.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.93Ft 12.4K
$68.7€58.7
-41.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.89Ft 2,453
$13.75€11.74
-42.62%
Cappuccino
$2.01Ft 626
$2.76€2.36
-27.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47Ft 457
$2.78€2.38
-47.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13Ft 351
$2.05€1.75
-44.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85Ft 575
$4.61€3.93
-59.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24Ft 695
$4.59€3.92
-51.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83Ft 258
$1.28€1.09
-35.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04Ft 324
$2.11€1.80
-50.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.54Ft 479
$1.97€1.68
-21.83%
Eggs
$2.21Ft 686
$3.44€2.94
-35.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.20Ft 1,928
$18.83€16.08
-67.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.06Ft 1,572
$9.45€8.07
-46.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.87Ft 3,380
$19.01€16.24
-42.82%
Apples(1kg)
$1.13Ft 351
$2.72€2.32
-58.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54Ft 479
$2.37€2.03
-35.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.34Ft 416
$2.08€1.77
-35.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13Ft 661
$2.76€2.36
-22.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93Ft 288
$1.97€1.68
-52.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93Ft 288
$1.79€1.53
-48.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.00Ft 312
$1.51€1.29
-33.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35Ft 108
$0.90€0.77
-61.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.17Ft 1,918
$6.76€5.77
-8.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.95Ft 1,229
$7.55€6.44
-47.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76Ft 238
$1.44€1.23
-47.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13Ft 352
$2.41€2.06
-53.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96Ft 298
$3.03€2.59
-68.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$24.64Ft 7,659
$28.39€24.25
-13.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.53Ft 787
$4.43€3.78
-42.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15Ft 359
$2.05€1.75
-43.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.94Ft 4,334
$29.33€25.05
-52.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72Ft 535
$1.89€1.61
-8.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KFt 5.6M
$38.7K€33.1K
-53.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KFt 10.8M
$32.4K€27.6K
7.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102Ft 31.7K
$189€161
-45.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.11Ft 7,496
$22.21€18.96
8.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.32Ft 5,385
$36.82€31.44
-52.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0Ft 16.1K
$58.0€49.52
-10.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.85Ft 2,750
$20.99€17.93
-57.84%
Cinema Ticket
$7.14Ft 2,220
$11.05€9.44
-35.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$145Ft 45.1K
$726€620
-80.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,402Ft 1.1M
$15.2K€13.0K
-77.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.0Ft 17.1K
$88.3€75.4
-37.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.31Ft 8,491
$36.98€31.58
-26.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.6Ft 19.8K
$103€87.6
-38.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.0Ft 21.1K
$119€102
-42.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$329Ft 102.1K
$1,526€1,304
-78.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$272Ft 84.6K
$1,218€1,040
-77.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473Ft 147.2K
$2,794€2,386
-83.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$386Ft 120.1K
$2,027€1,731
-80.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,992Ft 619.1K
$7,094€6,058
-71.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,589Ft 493.8K
$4,849€4,141
-67.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Szolnok
Barcelona
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,054Ft 327.7K
$2,404€2,053
-56.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.26
3.39
202.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Szolnok: April 26, 2026
Last update for Barcelona: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $329 in Szolnok and $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 128% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $40 in Szolnok vs $69 in Barcelona for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $320 per month, with Szolnok cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Szolnok vs Barcelona: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Szolnok and Barcelona?
Szolnok and Barcelona differ by about 153% in total monthly costs ($926 vs $2,341 including rent). Szolnok is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Barcelona earns 128% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Szolnok and Barcelona?
Rent for a central apartment: $329 in Szolnok versus $1,526 in Barcelona. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Szolnok and Barcelona?
Childcare runs $145 in Szolnok versus $726 in Barcelona. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 90% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $926 in Szolnok versus $2,341 in Barcelona, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Szolnok but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Szolnok the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Szolnok and Barcelona?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Szolnok or Barcelona safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Szolnok and Barcelona are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Szolnok or Barcelona?
Expats usually find Szolnok gentler on the wallet – expenses run 153% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.